There always has to be an episode in a television series where everybody feels dejected, where every character encounters some huge trouble, where escape seems impossible (pending miracles of course). Last week's Friday Night Lights was just that -- imagine me getting off the television with a heavy feeling in my chest.

Just listing down last week's developments is a chore. Think about this: Matt calls Julie and finds her options closing. Luke's injury gets found out and his football career is threatened. Vince's efforts to pay for his mom's rehabs -- which means him returning to crime, already a frightful line to tread -- lead to the death of a friend. Tim got kicked out of his trailer after Becky's mom thought he was sleeping with Becky -- initially funny, but later absolutely tragic, considering how he connected the formerly pregnant kid with Tami.

Oh, Tami. She's facing a lot of trouble for allegedly suggesting to Becky that she get an abortion. Thank you, furious Luke's mom. The issue is done with the school board, but every citizen has the press on his side, and after that phone call to the local paper, she's got to pacify her critics -- but not if they get to her first. Threats on the phone?

To make things worse, tonight's perhaps the most important match in East Dillon Lions' history: one against the folks on their backyard, the West Dillon Panthers, the same time Buddy left, and the same team Coach was kicked out of. "It's not just football," he says, with the game being in a most unfortunate position -- that against Tami's controversy. There's a lot more at stake, a lot more than Luke being benched for the big game.

That, plus adjustments for the Riggins brothers and Vince's plan of revenge, on tonight's Friday Night Lights, from 8pm on NBC. Two episodes left this season, kids, and it seems it'll just get deeper with each push.

(Image courtesy of NBC)